| 1 |
天下皆知美之為美，斯惡矣﹔皆知善之為善，斯不善矣。
|
All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing
this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is; they
all know the skill
of the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea
of) what the
want of skill is.
|
Everywhere it is obvious that if beauty makes a display of beauty, it is sheer
ugliness. It is obvious that if goodness makes a display
of goodness, it is sheer badness. For |
When every one recognizes beauty to be only a masquerade, then it is simply ugliness.
In the same way goodness, if it is not sincere, is
not goodness. |
| 2 |
故有無相生，難易相成，長短相形，高下相傾，音聲相和，前後相隨。是以聖人處「無為 」之事，行「不言」之教。 |
So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to
(the idea of) the other; that difficulty and ease produce the one (the
idea of) the other; that length and shortness fashion out the one the
figure of the other; that (the ideas of) height and lowness arise from
the contrast of the one with the other; that the musical notes and
tones become harmonious through the relation of one with another; and
that being before and behind give the idea of one following another.
|
"To be and not to be are mutually conditioned.
The difficult, the easy, are mutually definitioned.
The long, the short, are mutually exhibitioned.
Above, below, are mutually cognitioned.
The sound, the voice, are mutually coalitioned.
Before and after are mutually positioned." |
So existence and non-existence are incompatible. The difficult and easy are mutually
opposites. Just as the long and the short, the
high and the low, the loud and soft, the before and
the behind, are all opposites and each reveals the
other. |
| 3 |
萬物作焉而不辭，生而不有，為而不恃，功成而弗居。夫唯弗居，是以不去。 |
Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and
conveys his instructions without the use of speech.All things spring up, and
there is not one which declines to show
itself; they grow, and there is no claim made for their ownership;
they go through their processes, and there is no expectation (of a
reward for the results). The work is accomplished, and there is no
resting in it (as an achievement).
The work is done,
but how no one can see;
'Tis this that makes the power not cease to be. |
Therefore
The holy man abides
by non-assertion in his affairs and conveys by silence
his instruction. When the ten thousand things arise,
verily, he refuses them not. He quickens but
owns not. He acts but claims not. Merit he accomplishes,
but he does not dwell on it.
"Since
he does not dwell on it
It will never leave him." |
Therefore the wise man is not conspicuous in his affairs or given to much talking.
Though troubles arise he is not irritated. He produces
but does not own; he acts but claims no merit; he builds
but does not dwell therein; and because he does not
dwell therein he never departs. |
